About the project
The overall aim of the project is to use Raman Spectroscopy for the detection of biosignatures on planetary bodies, such as Mars and Europa, which are of particular interest in relation to habitability, as identified by NASA and other Space agencies.
The overall aim of the project is to use Raman Spectroscopy for the detection of biosignatures on planetary bodies, such as Mars and Europa, which are of particular interest in relation to habitability, as identified by NASA and other Space agencies.
Running concurrent with an ongoing project funded by the UK Space Agency to develop Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, this PhD work will provide crucial proof of concept for highly reproducible and durable SERS techniques compatible with planetary exploration.
Raman Spectroscopy has gained popularity with major space agencies in planetary exploration over the last decade as an exceptionally versatile, non-destructive, compositional analysis technique. One of the main challenges in Raman spectroscopy is that it is not particularly sensitive to trace molecules within sampled materials. This project will both develop the technology readiness level (TRL) and demonstrate the advancement of the Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) technology that enables detecting trace biosignatures on planetary bodies identified as potentially habitable zones, including in the Martian regolith and polar ice caps.
Key research activities include:
- developing in-situ nanostructure SERS substrates using a variety of fundamental designs
- characterising and performance-testing the substrates to prove the effectiveness of the technique
You will have the opportunity to work and be trained in Southampton’s world-class cleanroom facilities and gain experience in a variety of experimental techniques. Furthermore, you will contribute to the research group's activities, publish new findings in peer-reviewed journals, contribute where necessary to project management tasks and present results at conferences.
